Speech Resonance Clinic
Named a notable program by US News and World Report, we offer a speech surgery clinic to evaluate and treat resonance disorders in children. Resonance disorders occur when there's an opening, inconsistent movement or obstruction that changes the way air flows through the mouth and nose during speech.
They can be caused by velopharyngeal incompetence (VPI), which occurs when the opening between the soft palate and the pharynx doesn't close properly during speech. Some children born with a cleft palate will develop VPI due to the mobility or length of the palate.
If your child requires speech surgery, we will develop an individualized treatment plan for him or her. Surgical options include:
- Pharyngoplasty, to reduce the space behind the soft palate so less air escapes during speech
- Pharyngeal flap, a procedure where a permanent bridge of tissue is created between the throat and soft palate to reduce nasal air escape
- Palatal lengthening, a procedure that can be used when the palate is short or the soft palate muscles are not correctly positioned
Following surgery, your child will likely need speech therapy to practice correct articulation and develop good speech habits.
Our Doctors/Providers
Ananth Murthy, MD, FACS
Director, Pediatric Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Medical Director, James A. Lehman Jr., MD Craniofacial Center and Speech Resonance Clinic; Pediatric Craniofacial Surgeon
